Page 18 - Southern Exposure - July '22

Page 18, Southern Exposure

northern noteS

Prepare Now For The Rainy Season

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

June 1 was the start • The Palm Beach County Emergency Management page normal during heavy rains. Streets and swales are an integral
of the Atlantic hurricane also has a link to download the PBC DART app. DART stands part of the stormwater system. If you arrive upon a roadway
season. Forecasters are for Disaster Awareness and Recovery Tool. This app will let during or after a rain event where you cannot determine the
calling for another active you look up your evacuation zone, see available shelters, plan depth of the water in the street – for your safety – do not drive
season predicting 14 to 21 for a storm and tips about how to build a preparedness kit. down the street. Find an alternate route. If you are unsure
named storms. However, After the storm, it can help locate available grocery stores, how deep the water is, turn around. Cars can lose traction in
it only takes one to cause open gas stations and report damages. as little as 6 inches of water. Stay safe out there!
significant damage. This • Make a personal plan for hurricane preparedness. Learn NPDES tip: Hurricane season began June 1. Make sure
year marks the 30th more at Floridadisaster.org. your yards and trees are trimmed to avoid flying debris during
anniversary of Hurricane As we enter the rainy season in south Florida, it is essential a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and clippings properly.
Andrew, the Category to remember that some standing water in streets and swales is Do not put them into storm drains or lakes!
5 storm that devastated
Miami-Dade and surrounding areas. Aside from named
damaging but far less predictable. It pays to prepare. Here Support Groups At La Posada
storms, local afternoon thundershowers can be just as
are some things that you can do now to get ready:
neighborhood are clear of garbage, trash, leaves, limbs Address Mental And Emotional
• Ensure drainage gates, ditches and swales in your

or garden debris.
• Trim your trees and remove dead vegetation in your yard. Needs Of Senior Residents
Do not trim trees if a significant storm is in the forecast.
• Check your community retention pond or lake for
obstructed pipes and contact the appropriate authority for Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation
removal (your HOA, city, county, or local drainage district). surrounding mental health and emotional wellness has evolved to
address the increased need for resources to combat this issue. While
• Find out who is responsible for drainage in your the conversation around mental health has increased drastically,
community. Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl to input an many seniors are still feeling the effects of the pandemic. As one
address to see who is responsible for that area. of the largest demographics in the U.S., seniors are an increasingly
• Know your evacuation zone. Visit Palm Beach County important component to the challenges of mental health, yet they
Emergency Management’s home page for a link to the are frequently left out of the discussion.
However, La Posada, a senior living community located in the

Hurricane Evacuation Zone Lookup Tool. https://discover. heart of Palm Beach Gardens, is looking to change the conversation
pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem/ about mental health for seniors. With feelings of isolation and
anxiety exacerbated by the pandemic, more seniors than ever
are reporting struggling with their mental and emotional health.
To confront this issue, La Posada has developed several men’s
and women’s groups within the community that aim to provide
comfort, guidance and social connection for any resident who
needs additional support. “Obtaining and maintaining friendships as an older adult is vital
As a Kisco senior living community, La Posada encourages their to overall quality of life,” says Rick Minichino, director of wellness
residents to master the Art of Living Well, a lifestyle philosophy at La Posada. “Especially during periods of time where seniors are
ingrained in daily life within the community through programming feeling isolated, these topics are important to discuss to ensure our
and amenities that allow residents to master multiple dimensions of residents always have the support they need in their corner.”
wellness including intellectual stimulation, culture and so much more. Since these programs have been implemented, more residents
It is this philosophy that laid the groundwork for the initial than ever are facilitating and developing friendships and their own
implementation of La Posada’s senior support groups. Noel social groups. Residents within the community have bonded closely
Trachtenberg, resident and previous Chair of the Independent within their structured discussions, prompting them to extend those
Living Health Committee at La Posada, first spurred the idea after friendships into attending events and activities within the community
noticing a need for residents within the community to develop together, and even forming their own support groups. Additionally,
deeper social connections and friendships during the height of the La Posada team is exploring options to make these meetings
the pandemic. Although certain restrictions were lifted by the end even more accessible across the community by offering sessions
of 2020, Trachtenberg and the committee recognized that many over Zoom for residents who are unable to attend in person.
residents had continued to self-isolate for months. “At La Posada, we are constantly striving to find new
“We recognized the necessity to form support groups for our ways to enhance our resident’s wellbeing,” says Brad Cadiere,
fellow residents,” says Trachtenberg. “In addition to effects from the executive director at La Posada. “The introduction of this type
pandemic, we realized many residents needed support, especially if of programming is more vital than ever, and we are already able
they were recently widowed or had a spouse in memory care.” to observe the lasting, positive impact it is having throughout the
community.”
In addition to support groups, La Posada provides monthly
wellness calendars filled with over 40 activities a week that address
multiple facets of wellness, including mental, physical, emotional,
social, financial, and more. For example, residents who would like
to focus on mental wellness may choose to participate in such
experiences as support groups, social hours, discussion groups,
and many other activities.
“One of the aspects that makes life special at La Posada is our
holistic culture surrounding wellness,” says Minichino. “We are
committed to offering experiences that interest and inspire our
Southern Exposure Technologies residents every day.”

Computer Install/Setup/Repair
(561) 315-0144 La Posada currently facilitates four groups for residents, two
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com women’s groups and two men’s groups, with various levels of
structure for mental and emotional wellness. The Women’s Circles
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install are guided by DeeAnn Vera, a professional who first began working
* Networking, Troubleshooting with the community to bring new and unique classes that allowed
* Instruction residents to explore their creativity. While conducting these classes,
* Hardware/Software Installation Vera took notice of an untapped potential to further connect women
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix
* Cleanup/Maintenance/Backup within the community on a more intentional level.
* Business Consult/Startup/Move Since the beginning of the women’s circles, Vera has used her
* Website Design/Maintenance background in counseling to guide the group discussions, enabling
the female residents to be social and have fun, all while creating a
Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer safe space for them to address topics that affect most seniors, such
and wireless network”! as downsizing, grief, community living, and sense of purpose.
GET S.E.T. GO! Similarly, the men’s groups are directed by Dr. Andrea Stripling,
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES a local clinical psychologist in West Palm Beach. In addition to If you are interested in learning more about life at
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, designating a space for the male residents to interact and bond, La Posada, join us for a special event in partnership
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, these groups were created to clear the way for conversations that with Sutter & Nugent on July 19, 2022 at 2:00pm.
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED are not typical among men’s usual social circles. While seniors of During the event, attendees will experience the award-
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. both sexes experience comparable issues, in general, men usually
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, have a more difficult time – sharing emotions and discussing more winning amenities and service that make La Posada
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND vulnerable topics. special. Space is limited, so call (561) 475.3386 or
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(561) 315-0144
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